Xiaomi Won’t Sell You a SU7 Ultra Unless You Can Pass Its Driving Test

It will take more than money to get behind the wheel of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra.

The Chinese electronics giant won’t sell the upcoming high-performance version of its battery-powered sedan to just anyone, according to CarScoops. The company will require anyone interesting in buying the outrageous EV to pass a special driving test first.

Earlier this year, Xiaomi, which has previously best been known for its smartphones, announced that it would be getting into the car business. Its first model, the SU7, has been specifically designed and engineered to compete with two of the best-regarded EVs on the market, the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S. It was an impressive debut, but Xiaomi has bigger ambitions than that.

This summer, the brand began teasing a high-performance, track-focused version of the SU7 called the Ultra. It will be powered by a tri-motor powertrain that the company claims will pump out 1,517 horses, 853 hp more than the current range-topping SU7 Max. It will also wear an aggressive carbon-fiber aero package that produces over 4,700 pounds of downforce while reducing curb weight by over 1,000 hp. Thanks to the added oomph and body kit, the brand claims the EV will be able to rocket from zero to 62 mph in just 2.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 217 mph.

If Xiaomi is able to deliver on what it’s promised, the SU7 Ultra will be a lot to handle. Because of this, Xiaomi is taking the unusual step of requiring customers to meet certain criteria to buy the car. It’s unclear what exactly this will entail, but CarScoops reports that anyone interested in the EV will need to pass a “step-by-step exam” before being given the keys to the powerful four-door.

Luckily, anyone interested in the SU7 Ultra will have time to study and improve their skills. Xiaomi won’t open up the order books for the battery-powered track beast until the first quarter of next year. Pricing information has yet to be announced, but considering that the SU7 starts at around $30,000, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Ultra costs less than the top-of-the-line Taycan Turbo S ($195,000) and Model S Plaid ($90,000).